Highway replaceable post



15, 1967 J. H. HESTER ETAL 3,335,534

HIGHWAY REPLACEABLE POST Filed June 11, 1965 James Hes/e);

eoiye 7. Hes/e; 50y A. Hes/e;

[/7 we n hrs.

III/Illa "H United States Patent O 3,335,534 HIGHWAY REPLACEABLE PQST James H. Hester, El Monte, and George T. Hester and Ray L. Hester, Santa Monica, Calif. Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 463,278 2 Ciairns. Il. 52l69) This invention relates generally to ground supported structures of the kind which comprise one or more supporting posts anchored in the ground. The invention has more particular reference to a novel replaceable post assembly for ground supported structures of this kind.

As will appear from the ensuing description, the present replaceable post assembly may 'be used to advantage in various ground supported structures of the character described. However, the invention is particularly designed for highway use in connection with supporting highway markers, barrier fences, and the like. For this reason, the invention will be disclosed herein in connection wit-h this particular application thereof. In view of what was just said concerning the general utility of the invention, however, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in application to such highway use.

Many super highways, particularly intracity highways, such as freeways, expressways, and the like, are equipped with center dividers or barriers of various kinds to separate the lanes which carry trafiic in one direction from the lanes which carry traffic in the opposite direction. These barriers are designed to prevent vehicles traveling in one direction from crossing over into the lanes of oncoming trafiic and thereby minimize or eliminate head-on collisions.

As is well known to every motorist who travels such highways, these center barriers receive numerous impacts and require the constant attention of several full-time maintenance crews to maintain the barriers in the proper state of repair. The replacement costs alone for replacing sections of highway barriers which are damaged each day in any given city are relatively high. The total cost to maintain such barriers, of course, includes, in addition to these replacement costs, the labor costs required to repair and replace damaged barrier sections. Moreover, the labor time required to repair and replace damaged sections of highway barriers is of concern from another standpoint other than cost. Thus, most super highways of the kind under consideration are almost constantly very heavily traveled by fast-moving vehicles. The presence of maintenance crews and their equipment on these highways, therefore, constitutes a distinct safety hazard for both the crews and the motorists. Moreover, in many cases, at least one lane of traflic may be partially blocked or entirely closed in the vicinity of the repair work. This disturbs the normal traffic flow pattern and often creates a trafiic jam. Accordingly, it is extremely important that the time required to repair and replace a given stretch of highway barrier be reduced to an absolute minimum.

Most, if not all, existing highway barriers are deficient because of the excessive labor time and cost required to repair and replace sections of these barriers. One common type of highway barrier, for example, comprises a chain-link fence attached at intervals to upstanding supporting posts. The lower ends of these posts are permanently embedded in concrete footings. The posts of such chain-link barrier fences are relatively slender. As a consequence, even a relatively low intensity impact against a barrier fence of this kind generally bends the supporting posts in the immediate vicinity of the impact sufiiciently to require replacement of the posts.

Because of the fact that the fence posts are permanently embedded in concrete, replacement of the posts involves a major repair operation requiring the use of jack-hamice mers, or the like, to break up the concrete footing at tl base of each damaged post, thereby to permit removal 1 the damaged post and installation of a new post. In add tion, a concrete mixer is required to supply the where for the footing of the new post. Accordingly, at lea two vehicles are involved at each repair operation, 1 wit, the vehicle which supplies the concrete and the Vt hicle which carries the high-pressure air pump for th jack hammers. These vehicles increase the safety hazar referred to earlier.

It is evident, therefore, that there is a definite nee for an improved supporting post construction for highwa barrier fences of the character described. The preset invention provides a novel replaceable post assembly whic is ideally suited for this purpose. The invention may als be used to advantage for supporting highway marke signs, and the like, which are often damaged by vehicle:

As noted earlier, however, the invention is not limite in application to such highway use. Thus, the inventio: may be employed in a variety of other applications re quiring anchorage of a supporting post in the ground.

It is a general object of the invention, therefore, t1 provide a novel replaceable post assembly of the char acter described.

A more specific object of the invention is to providi a replaceable post assembly including a supporting pos which may be removed by hand, for repair or replace ment, in minimum time, with minimum effort, and with out disturbing the concrete footing in which the post i: anchored or the use of tools other than a simple ham wrench, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a replace able post assembly of the character described which i: weather resistant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a replaceable post assembly of the character described whicl is ideally suited for use in supporting highway marke1 signs, highway barrier fences, and the like.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide 2 replaceable post assembly of the character described which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, rugged in construction, and otherwise ideally suited to its intended purposes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the invention, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a highway center barrier embodying the replaceable post assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspecitve view of a collet structure embodied in the post.

The highway center barrier 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1 of these drawings comprises a chain link fence 12 supported at intervals by replaceable post assemblies 14 according to this invention. Each post assembly 14 includes an upright supporting post 16 and a base 18 in which the lower end of the post is releasably secured.

The supporting base 18 of each post assembly 14 may be fabricated in various ways and of various materials. Preferably, however, the base is constructed of high strength iron or steel which may be cast or machined to the shape illustarted. Base 18 has a relatively slender, generally cylindrical lower extremity or shaft 20 and a radially enlarged, generally frusto-conical upper extremity or head 22. The lower end of the base shaft 20 is preferably conically tapered, as shown, to provide the shaft with '3 generally pointed tip 24. The head 22 of the base may ave an upper, radially projecting flange 26.

Extending axially through the base 13, and opening 0 its normally upper end, is a socket 28. Socket 28 has a ower cylindrical portion 30 of generally constant diam- -.ter and an upper, conicaily tapered portion 32. The liameter of the tapered socket portion 32 increases toward he open, upper end of the socket. The base socket 23 'emovably receives the lower extremity of the supportng post 16. The lower cylindrical portion 36 of the socket s radially dimensioned to receive the post with a relaively close fit, as shown. The upper socket portion 32 vapers to a major diameter, at the upper end of the base, which is substantially greater than the diameter of the post 16.

Post 16 is releasably secured in the base 18 by means of a. removable, split collet structure 34. This collet structure comprises an externally conically tapered collet which is split in a parting plane containing the axis of the collet thereby to form a pair of conically tapered collet members 36. Extending axially through the collet 34 is a bore 38 for receiving the supporting post 16. Collet 34 is dimensioned to fit within the upper end of the conically tapered socket portion 32 in the base 18, as shown in FIGURE 2. The external surface of the collet is tapered at the same angle as the internal surface of the conically tapered socket portion 32, whereby the collet and base are disposed in surface to surface contact. Preferably, the collet 34 is axially dimensioned such that when the collet is positioned in the base the upper end of the collet is substantially flush with the upper annular end face of the base.

The angular extent of each collet member 36 is somewhat less than 180 degrees. Accordingly, when the post 16, base 18, and collet 34 of the present post assembly 14 are assembled in the manner shown in FIGURE 2, the confronting end faces of the two collet members are spaced slightly, as may be observed in the latter figure, whereby the collet is effective to frictionally secure the post in the base. In this connection, attention is directed to the fact that the angle of taper of the concially tapered socket portion 32 is relatively small, on the order of ten to fifteen degrees, thereby to enhance the frictional locking efliciency of the collet. In order to more effectively secure the post 16 in the base 18, the latter may be provided with a threaded bore 46 opening through the wall of the upper conically tapered socket portion 32 for receiving a set screw 42. This set screw may be tightened against the collet 34 thereby to cause the latter to more firmly grip the supporting post 16 and, in addition, to restrain the collet against axial movement in the tapered socket portion 32. Removal of the supporting post 16 from the base 18, therefore, requires release of the set screw 42. For this reason, the upper end of the set screw is exposed at the upper end of the base 18, as shown.

It is preferable, though not essential, that the present replaceable post assembly 14 be sealed against the entrance of water into the post receiving socket 28 within the base 18. To this end, the assembly is provided with a first seal 44 for sealing the supporting post 16 to the upper annular end face 46 of the base and with a second seal 48 for sealing the collet set screw 46 to the base. Seal 44 comprises a flexible sealing sleeve having an upper opening 50 to receive the post 16. This end of the sleeve is secured to the post in any convenient way, as by a clamp ring 52 surrounding the upper end of the sleeve. The lower end of the sealing sleeve 44 is enlarged and reinforced to provide a sealing rim or bead 54 for engaging the upper face 46 of the base 18 about the upper end of the tapered socket portion 32. The sealing sleeve 44 is axially dimensioned such that when the supporting post 16 is inserted into the base socket 28, the sealing head 54 on the sleeve is pressed against the upper face 46 of the base, thereby to effectively seal the post to the base. The seal 4, 43 between the collet set screw 46 and the base 18 may comprise a simple resilient washer.

In order to facilitate removal of the supporting post 16 from the base 18, the collet members 36 are equipped with upper grips or handles 56 by which the collet members may be lifted out of the base socket 28 after the collet set screw 46 has been released. The sealing sleeve 44- normally covers and thereby conceals these grips.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the base 18 of each replaceable post assembly 14 is embedded in a concrete footing 58 to a depth such that the upper, open end of the base is exposed. In this regard, attention is directed to the fact that the concrete which forms the footing 58 may be poured around the base 18, or, in the alternative, the base may be forced downwardly into the concrete footing after the latter has been poured. It is significant to note that if this latter method of pouring the footing is employed, the conically tapered tip 24 on the base shaft 16 and the conically tapered external surface on the base head 22 facilitate driving of the base downwardly into the concrete slurry which forms the footing. Preferably, the lower tip 24 of the base extends a distance below the concrete footing 58 and is open, as shown, to provide drainage for any condensation which may occur within the base or any water which may leak into the base. If the tip is thus provided with a drainage opening, the concrete footing is preferably poured around the base, rather than driving the base downwardly through the concrete footing after the latter is poured, thereby to avoid blocking of the opening.

At this point, it is apparent that the present replaceable post assembly 14 possesses the distinct advantage that in the event the supporting post 16 of the assembly is bent or otherwise damaged by impact of a vehicle with the barrier fence 10, the damaged post may be quickly and easily replaced by releasing the collet screw 46, removing the collet 34, extracting the damaged post 16 from the base 18, inserting a new post into the base, replacing the collet 34, and finally locking the collet in position by tightening the collet screw 46. The labor cost and time required to repair a damaged section of the barrier fence 10 are thereby materially reduced.

As noted earlier, while the present replaceable post assembly 14 is uniquely adapted to supporting a chain link highway barrier fence of the kind illustrated in FIG- URE 1, the assembly may be used to support highway marker signs and the like, which are also often damaged by vehicles traveling on the highways. In addition, the present replaceable post assembly may be used for a variety of other applications requiring anchorage of a supporting post in the ground.

Accordingly, while the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be its most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. A replaceable post assembly, comprising:

a generally tubular base adapted to be embedded in the ground including a lower, relatively slender tubular end and an upper radially enlarged, externally conically tapered end, the lower extremity of said tubular end being pointed, there being a socket extending axially through and opening through said upper end of said base, said socket having a lower cylindrical portion of generally constant diameter within said lower tubular end of said base and an upper conically tapered portion within said upper conically tapered end of said base, a supporting post having a normally lower end removably positioned in said socket and a normally upper end extending beyond said upper end of said base, said post having a rela- 5 6 tively close fit in said lower socket portion, a pair of base projecting below the lower end of said footing conically tapered collet members positioned in said into the underlying ground, and conically tapered socket portion about said post for the lower end of said socket opening through the lower securing said post in said socket, the upper ends of end of said base to permit water to drain from said said collet members being substantially flush with 5 socket. the upper end of said base and including accessible grips to aid removal and insertion of said members, a e e ces te yieldable sealing sleeve surrounding and adjustable UNITED STATES PATENTS along said post and including a lower sealing rim seating against the upper end of said base about the upper end of said socket, and a collet screw threaded in said base at an angle to said socket and seating 816,719 4/ 1906 Fell 52-297 10 1,877,074 9/ 1932 Stanziale.

2,954,638 10 /1960 Motter.

against the outer surface of one collet member for 3114303 12/1963 Oberbach 256 13'1 X urging the latter member inwardly and downwardly FOREIGN PATENTS relative to said base and thereby clamping said collet 15 458,504 1 3 Erance members tightly about said post, said screw having 513,468 2 1921 France its head recessed into and exposed at said upper end 1,058,216 11/1953 Frame of d base- 293,916 9/1916 Germany.

2. A replaceable post assembly accordlng to clalm 1 1n 590,717 4 5 Italy combination with: 20

a n t footing embedded in the ground, DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

said base being embedded in said footing with the upper end of said base substantially flush with the HARRISON MOSELEY Examiner upper end of said footing and the lower end of said D. L. TAYLOR. Assistant Examiner. 

1. A REPLACEABLE POST ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: A GENERALLLY TUBULAR BASE ADAPTED TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE GROUND INCLUDING A LOWER, RELATIVELY SLENDER TUBULAR END AND AN UPPER RADIALLY ENLARGED, EXTERNALLY CONICALLY TAPERED END, THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID TUBULAR END BEING POINTED, THERE BEING A SOCKET EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH AND OPENING THROUGH SAID UPPER END OF SAID BASE, SAID SOCKET HAVING A LOWER CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF GENERALLY CONSTANT DIAMETER WITHIN SAID LOWER TUBULAR END OF SAID BASE AND AN UPPER CONICALLY TAPERED PORTION WITHIN SAID UPPER CONICALLY TAPERED END OF SAID BASE, A SUPPORTING POST HAVING A NORMALLY LOWER END REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID SOCKET AND A NORMALLY UPPER AND EXTENDING BEYOND SAID UPPER END OF SAID BASE, SAID POST HAVING A RELATIVELY CLOSE FIT IN SAID LOWER SOCKET PORTION, A PAIR OF CONICALLY TAPERED COLLET MEMBERS POSITIONED IN SAID CONICALLY TAPERED SOCKET PORTION ABOUT SAID POST FOR SECURING SAID POST IN SAID SOCKET, THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID COLLET MEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE UPPER END OF SAID BASE AND INCLUDING ACCESSIBLE GRIPS TO AID REMOVAL AND INSERTION OF SAID MEMBERS, A YIELDABLE SEALING SLEEVE SURROUNDING AND ADJUSTABLE ALONG SAID POST AND INCLUDING A LOWER SEALING RIM SEATING AGAINST THE UPPER END OF SAID BASE ABOUT THE UPPER END OF SAID SOCKET, AND A COLLET SCREW THREADED IN SAID BASE AT AN ANGLE TO SAID SOCKET AND SEATING AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF ONE COLLET MEMBER FOR URGING THE LATTER MEMBER INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID BASE AND THEREBY CLAMPING SAID COLLET MEMBERS TIGHTLY ABOUT SAID POST, SAID SCREW HAVING ITS HEAD RECESSED INTO AND EXPOSED AT SAID UPPER END OF SAID BASE. 